Druckhamer



Aug. 11, 1959 A. DRUCKHAMER 2,898,638 BASEMENT wmnow WELL COVER Filed Aug. 30, 1955 Arr/2dr Druc/rhamer INVENTOR.

United tates Patent BASEMENT WINDOW WELL COVER Arthur Druckhamer, Elmhurst, 111.

Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,397

'1 Claim. (Cl. 20--1) The present invention relates generally to basement window wells and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for excluding water, leaves and debris, particularly the former from such wells without loss of light or ventilation when the latter is desired.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a window well cover of the character described which may be readily removed for cleaning or other purposes and replaced.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a window well cover of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a basement window well equipped with a cover constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the installation; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through a modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates a conventional basement window in a building wall 6. In the installation which has been illustrated, the window 5 is provided with a metallic well 7 of the substantially semicircular type.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a hinge bar 8 of metal or other suitable material is mounted horizontally on the exterior of the wall 6 above the window 5. The hinge bar 8, which may be affixed to the wall in any desired manner, is substantially J-shaped in transverse section, said bar including a trough 9 on its lower portion.

Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the bar 8 and adapted to rest on the top of the well 7 for covering and closing said well is an inclined plate or panel 10 of a suitable transparent or light transmitting, durable material. Of course, the shape and dimensions of the panel 10 conform substantially to those of the well 7. The straight inner marginal portion of the panel- 10 has formed integrally therewith a depending bead or rib 11 which is journaled in the trough 9 of the bar 8 for pivotally and detachably anchoring said panel thereto.

The peripheral edge of the panel 10 is provided with an integral, depending skirt or flange 12 which overlies the upper portion of the well 7. Depending from the panel 10 in spaced, concentric relation to the flange for receiving the well 7 therebetween is a screen 13 which, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, tapers toward its ends.

It is thought that the manner in which the cover functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the panel 10 resting on the well 7, substantially all water, trash, etc. will be positively excluded from said well. This, however, is accomplished with substantially no loss of light to the window 5, the panel 10 being transparent. As shown in dashed lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, the cover may be raised or opened a limited distance without admitting insects, trash, etc., the screen 13 preventing this. A leg 16 is pivotally mounted on the flange 12 for supporting the cover in this position. Or, the cover may be fully opened if desired. Still further, the panel 10 may be readily removed, it being only necessary to lift the bead or rib 11 out of the trough 9 to accomplish this. The cover is not limited to any specific shape and can be constructed in any form.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 of the drawing, reference character 14 designates a hinge bar in the form of a channel member which is mounted horizontally on the building wall 6 above the window 5. The cannel bar 14 is for the reception of the flat inner marginal portion of a plate or panel 15 of suitable transparent, durable material. The panel 15 may be readily withdrawn from the channel bar 14 when it is desired to remove the cover. In other respects this bar of the invention is substantially similar in construction and operation to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A cover for a substantially semi-circular basement window well of a building, said cover comprising a substantially semi-circular light transmitting panel hingedly mounted for vertical swinging movement on the building above the window and adapted to rest by gravity on the top of the well when in closed position, said panel conforming to the contour of the'well and including a depending peripheral flange, an arcuate screen depending from the panel in spaced, concentric relation to the flange for the reception of the top portion of the well wall therebetween when said panel is resting in closed position on the top of the well, and a leg pivotally mounted on the flange for supporting the panel in partially open position, said screen extending below said flange for bridging the space between the panel and the top of the well when said panel is in said partially open position on said well and said flange is spaced from said well.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,204 Porter Dec. 20, 1904 1,803,091 Bemis Apr. 28, 1931 2,262,384 Cooper Nov. 11, 1941 2,321,118 Zechiel June 8, 1943 2,355,151 Findley Aug. 8, 1944 2,453,609 Whitehouse Nov. 9, 1948 2,701,515 Rinker Feb. 8, 1955 2,761,180 Krelwitz Sept. 4, 1956 

